Robert Dixon

by Edmund Starling, 1886

ROBERT DIXON, son of Robert Dixon and Mary Ann Clay, was
born in Henderson County on the thirteenth day of October, 1843. His father
was a successful farmer until a few years prior to his death, he removed
into the city and embarked in the tobacco business on Lower Main Street.
Subsequent to this, a few years, the father purchased the lot, corner of
First and Elm Streets, and built the large three-story brick livery stable,
with two stores attached, and commenced the livery business on a large
scale. He caused the third story of this immense building to be elegantly
floored, and opened therein the first roller skating rink in Henderson. Mr.
Dixon soon after died and the subject of this sketch succeeded to his
business. Mr. Dixon was a man of great influence, fine intelligence and
wonderful firmness of character. The maternal ancestors of our subject were
William Clay and Amelia Townes. His paternal ancestors were Captain Hal
Dixon and Mary Johnston. They were pioneers to this part of Kentucky and
reared large families of children. Our subject was educated at the Sayer
Institute at Frankfort, Ky., and at the University of Toronto, Canada. On
the first day of December, 1864, Mr. Dixon married Miss Alice Young,
daughter of Judge Milton Young, a strong-minded, noble woman. Unto them six
children have been born, Nannie, Maria, Alice, Mary, Emma and Robert.
Nannie married Hon. John L. Dorsey.

Mr. Dixon has served, and is now serving, as a member of
the Board of Trustees of the Public and High School Boards of the city.

For a number of years he has been annually elected a
member of the Board of Directors of the Henderson Fair Company and has done
more, perhaps, than anyone else to build up that institution. Certainly he
has contributed more to the raising of fine stock in the county than any
one citizen of it. He has expended a large amount of his means in this
direction, and is to-day the owner of some of the finest blooded horseflesh
in the entire State. He is the owner of the largest livery and sales stable
in the city and gives his whole time and attention to that particular
business. He is of that class who attends strictly to his own business and
none other; is a hard worker and enjoys a liberal patronage. He is a
Democrat, and, when the spirit moves him, is a to-be-feared factor in
politics. He was raised a Presbyterian but was never much of a churchman.
He was never much of an admirer of secret societies, consequently has never
joined any Lodge.

The History of Henderson County, Kentucky by Starling 1887 page 679-80;